Brisbane

Last night I flew from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar - A busy airport but organised - my check in was smooth. 

I had been worrying a bit about Australian immigration being strict and to be on the safe side I purchased an 'Onward ticket' from a site for £12. They reserve a flight, for the fee, which is then cancelled 48 hours later, and you get a pdf of the flight booking to satisfy the airline and the immigration officials of the destination country. This gave me peace of mind, but I needn't have bothered.

The airline - Batik Air Malaysia - didn't ask me any questions or even want to see my Visa.

The flight at 10 pm was delayed by an hour or so, due to problems the airline had with bad weather from where they had come, plus issues with landing due to an oil leak on the runway. 

There seemed to be quite a few quite chavvy/ mouthy Australians on our flight and there were also a lot of 'gate' changes for different flights which became quite confusing. 

Once on the plane I managed to sleep most of the time and we arrived at 6.40 am in Brisbane including the two hour time difference.

It took another hour for our bags to eventually come off the plane, but immigration was no problem. 

Everyone arriving, including the Australians, had to fill in an arrival card, with details of your plans, address etc in Australia and declaring your health status and that you weren't bringing in anything you shouldn't be. 

After a passport check I simply handed in my card and the guy asked me if I was travelling alone. I said yes and he said, 'Great! Well off you go.' - so I kind of wasted my £12........never mind.

I took the train to South Brisbane - my phone at this point had no service or data connection so I only had the little blue dot on google maps to guide me to my hostel, which fortunately, turned out to be walk-able from the station, and I must say I felt relaxed in the city - the hostel being slightly out in the suburbs with some really cute streets and houses.

Too early for check in, I dumped my bag at the 'Somewhere to stay backpackers' hostel and headed out to explore the city.

I found, what was called the 'cutural centre' by the river - the South Bank area - with all the museums and theatres.

There was a good view of the city. 

and a walking bridge across to the other side 

where I found the 'Convicts museum' or Commissariat store museum - actually built by the convicts deported from England, in 1829, during the reign of King George IV.

Quoted as 'The most significant exhibit is the building itself. The Commissariat Store is Queensland’s oldest habitable, and most significant heritage building. The lower two floors of this magnificent building were convict built during 1828 and 1829. The third floor, now the main entrance from William Street was added in 1913.'

https://www.commissariatstore.org.au/

This was a fascinating find, and I was lucky enough to have a free guided tour by the museums most experienced volunteer, 80 year old Phil, and ex army Sergeant who spent time in Papua New Guinea. 

The building above was used as a store house for supplies for the convict settlement - hence the bars on the windows - and built from the rock that Brisbane is now built on, dug out by the convicts as part of their 'hard labour'. 

Phil was extremely knowledgeable and explained how the convicts were treated, and punished by the various men in charge and how they eventually formed their own convict settlements with land that became theirs to cultivate and make a life from. Then it was simply Moreton bay, established May 1825.....200 years ago!

Of course it was almost impossible for them to escape as it was surrounded by bush and the Aborigines, who, naturally, could be hostile, but some - a handful - managed to make lives with them ......there was so much information, I could go on and on, and I may write more of this up if I have time later........

Some of the exhibits - the oldest workbench in Queensland.....

Shackles of the prisoners

From the ships

gallows

I then went up to the view point - a free lift to a fantastic view over Brisbane - from the Glass platform at the Star Skydeck (level 23)

The bit with the glass floor was a bit scary

Here you can see it from below

From there I spotted the Botanical gardens park which was really lovely to stroll around

Not sure my videos are improving........apologies for the repetition of the word 'birds' ....and not actually seeing any birds !!

In front of the Parliament building they were setting up for a night walking marathon. I had a chat with the girls there - in aid of 'Ronald Mcdonald house' charity which we have in the JR hospital too.

On  the way back I found a little mall with a shop full of fruit and veg etc. so I got some supplies to make tea, since the hostel has a kitchen. 

It's a lively hostel, full of French, Spanish and Italians. I got chatting to a Norwegian girl from Trondheim, and a girl from Sheffield who's in my room.........I am the oldest here by miles and do feel a little uncomfortable.......sad to say........perhaps I'll get over this with time.

Many here are working & living in the hostel. I hear there's reasonable money to be earnt in Australia for backpackers. 

Note to add: my Mum sent me this in an email today

..the streets of houses/Bungalows are similar to where Mum&Dad moved to a bungalow just outside Melbourne from the Hostel when me & Margaret went back home to Hillingdon England to stay with my Grandmother she had a nice house there ..Dad & Mum both had jobs and accommodation at the Hostel Broadmeadows before leaving England for Australia they only wanted skilled people on the £10 pom sceme Dad worked on aircraft maintenance and Mum both for Annas Airlines x 

Thanks Mum xxx Nice to have a bit of History & connection